Network News

Get the Morning Fix and the new Afternoon Fix delivered to your inbox or mobile device for easy access to the top political stories of the day. All you need is one click to get Morning Fix and Afternoon Fix!

In the past five years (or so) technology regarding video (and audio) has advanced exponentially -- from the flip cams that are ubiquitous (including in the Etheridge incident) to the ability to quickly post clips to the Internet -- and, in so doing, has changed the calculus for politicians.

For Etheridge, who hasn't had a real race in more than a decade -- and almost certainly won't have one this November either -- the idea that this dust-up could become national news was probably unimaginable.

But, once Andrew Breitbart posted the link to his BigGovernment.com site this morning, a national news story quickly developed as Republicans worked to publicize the incident.

"Bob Etheridge has lost it," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Jon Thompson. "His conduct is unbecoming of a member of Congress."

Amid the partisan bickering, Etheridge quickly bowed to political reality -- issuing an apology for the incident; "I have seen the video posted on several blogs," he said. "I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction, and I apologize to all involved."

(The simple political fact is that as a Member of Congress, you can't grab people on the street -- no matter the context.)

While the Etheridge incident drew considerable attention, it was far from the first example of politicians struggling to adjust to a world in which there every utterance is being taped and quickly posted to the web.

Time and time again, politicians, who should know better, seem to commit gaffes based on a belief that what they are saying will never get broadcast to the wider world. The Etheridge controversy is more evidence that such an idea is entirely antiquated.

When a politician opens his or her mouth is this age of journalism -- and activism -- they must assume that anything they say will be made public at some point. Any other approach borders on political folly.

Congressmen have become used to acting criminally or unethically and getting away with it. And if the offenders are Democrats, the Washington Post will spike the stories until they can no longer be ignored, then minimize the Democrat misconduct in print.

The video makes it clear the Congressman assaulted a young man. If there is any justice, this Congressman will be charged.

Chris Cillizza's sage advice to politicians boils down to "Beware of cameras and microphones".

My advice to politicians would be "Don't be criminals in the first place."

It is not what Bob Etheridge said that is the problem. Bob Etheridge is no better than a street thug when he grabbed that kids arm and then his neck. Who in the world does he think he is? That kid asked a simple question. He did nothing wrong to ask a question any citizen could ask. Bob Etheridge has forgotten who he works for. This was an assault by a Congressman on a kid and it had nothing to do with anything he said. Bob Etheridge should be arrested.

So it's news to the Post that "anything you say (or do) can be used against you"?

Wow, if you guys were any farther behind the new media, you'd still be printing with a Gutenberg.

But seriously, folks ... Hollywood celebrities and sports stars face this kind of pressure every day. Do you really think it's necessary to remind D.C. politicians that they're public figures, too, and that it's no longer permissible for Congressmen to grab average citizens around the neck when they ask tough questions in public settings?

P.S. Regarding your statement that "the identity and affiliation of the questioner has [sic] yet to be determined" -- that's as ludicrous as saying, "Before I decide whether or not the Rodney King incident was an example of police brutality, I need to know who filmed it, what the person's motivation was, and whether he belonged to any radical political organization."

All this blather about who it is, the Congressman says he has a right to know, the motive is important, is all totally irrelevant.
What I saw, assuming the editing didn't hide something, is assault. Plain and simple. That's a felony. Charges should be filed, just like they would be against anyone else.

Marie - what are you on about? Palin wasn't elected - but an inexperienced legislator/litigator with no leadership/executive experience was - and the result is that offers of help from international points were ignored while the shores the Feds are to defend and protect are destroyed. Palin wasn't elected. Obama and Biden were......deal with the present.

How typically liberal to defend the bad behavior of one of your own by deflecting guilt onto the abused party. The simple truth is that regardless of who held that camera, the Representative is a public employee beholden and accountable to the public who pays his salary; that Representative had a choice....walk away, respond with a "no comment"...instead, he chose to assault the American asking him to justify his position. Your liberal deflection changes nothing.

It is more proof of the liberal hypocrisy - two videos give complete perspective on what occurred and excuses made.....yet, not one audio or video exists of the so called spitting and racial hate speech of the protesters who stood outside as the (deliberate) march to sign the unpopular health care reform bill to give evidence to the Democrat's account.....

We are talking about whether someone was RESPONSIBLE with their vote or not.

That is the question.

And - when half the country is saying "EXPERIENCE MATTERS"

AND "QUALIFICATIONS ARE IMPORTANT"

And you have millions of people IGNORING THAT SIMPLE LOGIC.

and millions of people PURPOSING IGNORING EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS -

An instead voting for someone WHO WAS CLEARLY INEXPERIENCED - AND UNQUALIFIED

BECAUSE SHE WAS WHITE and PALIN WAS A MILF AND THAT IS ENOUGH FOR US

AND YES - IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE HONEST THEY VOTED FOR PALIN BECAUSE SHE WAS A MILF. A VERY HOT MILF

If a white man had the SAME INEXPERIENCE, THE SAME LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS - HOW far in the Presidential race would he have gone ???? LOOK AT MCCAIN HE IS STRUGGLING WITHOUT A MILF IN AZ

Yet - if people vote for someone WHO IS CLEARLY INEXPERIENCED AND UNQUALIFIED...BUT HOT AT LEAST THEY GOT THAT....HOT!!!!

AND IF THAT PERSON MESSES UP - SAFETY INSPECTIONS ARE NOT DONE PROPERLY - AND AN OIL RIG BLOWS UP.... at least THEY ARE STILL HOT AND THE MEN OF THE GULF WOULD LIKE A VISIT. no?

11 People are dead, hundreds of birds are dying - thousands of fishermen are out of work. WE CAN AT LEAST HUM DRILL BABY DRILL IN A RESPECTFUL WAY ALMOST LIKE AMAZING GRACE SINCE IT IS THE SOUTH AND WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT AND ALL

An entire ecosytem could be destroyed. DRILL BABY DRILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT -- PALIN SAID IT AND SAID AND SAID AND i THINK THE PEOPLE IN NEW ORLEANS WOULD GO OUT AND DRILL WITH PALIN IF THEY HAD THE CHANCE BUT THE SOCIALIST COMMIE nAZI GOVERNMENT WON'T GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE TO DRILL BABY DRILL RIGHT NOW!

THINK OF THE JOB SHE WOULD HAVE DONE WITH THOSE GLASSES, A TIGHT RED SKIRT AND A FEW SNARKY LINES THOSE MEN WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE IN THEIR DRILLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DRILL BABY DRILL -WHY NOT THE OIL IS GOD'S OIL AND HE GAVE IT TO AMERICA FOR HER SUVS

BUT if THE SAFETY INSPECTIONS STILL WERE NOT BEING DONE PROPERLY BUT SHE WAS STILL HOT - THAT LUCKY TODD i WISH i WAS HER TODD FOR A NIGHT AND ONE MORNING IN WASILLA.

iS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GIVE PALIN THE JOB TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JOB SHE COULD HAVE DONE ?????

OK THE PLATFORM COULD HAVE BLOWN UP ANYWAY BUT WHO IS HOTTER OR WHITER PALIN OR OBAMA ----?????

funny how the left is foaming at the mouth over this. a story about somehting someone on the left doing something wrong actually made the national news and all you can do is claim it is a conspiracy or turn it into a personal attack. what that congressman did was unacceptable for a man in his postion. did you ever hear of walking away? there are classier and better ways of dealing with the situation. He was wrong, deal with it. If that was a liberal gong after a republican you would be singing a different tune.

Public Service Announcement to all Congressmen and Women / along with current renter @1600 We the People have our eyes and ears open, we are watching you. we are using your laws to remove you from office. You can run but you can't hide. All of the cameras of the world, including your own you have placed to watch us, are now watching you. The evidence will be used against you :D

The United States of America, Home of the Free and Brave Citizens...

Sorry you felon-is crooks in DC, but the statue of the citizens court has proclaimed that all crooks must go.

if I were paid and sent out by the state
GOP to perform their dirty tricks I certainly would not choose to reveal my identity just like the folks who obviously bankrolled Senate candidate Greene to the tune of $10,400. Does
anyone for a minute believe that Donald Segretti proudly proclaimed that he was sent out on behalf of Richard Nixon or that the New
Hampshire GOP went on local television to take credit for their telephone jamming scheme.

It is now obvious that Rs and TeaPartiers
once claiming they support strict construction
of the US Constitution have absolutely no
respect for it and are prepared once again
to shred it where ever its stands in their way:

"A proposed Arizona law would deny birth certificates to children born in the United States to illegal immigrant parents.

The bill comes on the heels of Arizona passing the nation's toughest immigration law.

"Under federal law, children born in the United States are automatically granted citizenship, regardless of their parents' residency status.

"Unlike (Senate Bill) 1070, it is clear this bill runs immediately afoul of the U.S. Constitution," she said".

Look at all the republican dogs foaming at the mouth,over nothing. Sure Etheridge made an ass of himself,...
Posted by: davidwg46

These students should sue in Judge Judy's Court so the people can see her explain to BoB , that it is illegal to assault people in the USA.
Charges should be filed against BoB by any 1/2 decent cop who sees the video/
They have enough to convict him.

Posted by Drindl,
'If someone ( who continually refuses to identify himself ) walks up to me and sticks a camera phone, video recorder or other recording devise in my face I'd do the same thing, maybe more like putting it where the sun don't shine.
This event should also go to prove that firearms of any type have no place in DC, if you think your taxes are high now just add 24 hr protection for everyone in the executive, legislative and judical branches just to be able to walk the street.
Posted by: jmfromdc | "

exactly.

I think both you and jmfromdc need anger management classes. I did not know that someone pointing a camera at someone else is grounds for putting it where the sun does not shine. I hope your ethics are not taught in the public schools. Please an adult would walk past, but an ill temper hot head grabs someone.

Look at all the republican dogs foaming at the mouth,over nothing. Sure Etheridge made an ass of himself, but I'll take that anyday over 8 years of Bush, Cheney and Rove sneering in contempt at the American people, all the while dismantling the apparatus in place to keep the private sector in check, causing the financial meltdown on Wall Street which mostly affects the poor shmucks that want to put them right back in office to get reamed again. Idiots!

"Etheridge, who hasn't had a real race in more than a decade -- and almost certainly won't have one this November either"

Nice job, Cillizza, at trying to sweep this under the rug for Etheridge. Here's a news flash for you: EVERY incumbent's seat is up for play this November, especially if there's a D after the name. And this video will certainly make Etheridge's re-election a lot harder this year.

Everyone attacking the questioners and defending the congressman, I've said it elsewhere and I'll say it again here: if the d-bag congressman had an "R" after his name and the smart-ass questioner had been Michael Moore, you'd not only reverse your position (support the questioner and attack, or at least laugh at, the congressman), you'd line up and buy a ticket to watch the film.

I want to apologize for my behavior that was videotaped yesterday. I reall DO WANT to apologize.
And I want everybody to know that if I hadn't BEEN videotaped, I wouldn't have behaved THAT way. But I was and I did and while I hope no one was offended, although these days offending someone really isn't under our control, I still WANT to apologize and at some point I will apologize, but if I can squeeze another few minutes of time out of this maybe someone who hates the media will send me money and others who don't now hate the media will START and they'll send money and then, I'll have another term to consider my actions, which I understand might have offended someone blah, blah, blah....

I checked the Breibart TV news post(out of North Carolina). The video this TV source posts states the video is un edited. It is obvious the Breibart TV that claims un edited is incorrect and I'm sure if someone would take the time to look at Breibart TV, your video and my video I saved you'd see Breitbart TV is biased. Stating on their site they didn't know for sure when this occurred, maybe a few days ago looks as if Breitbart TV is downplaying the altercation. Could it be because they are in North Carolina. Please send email address to me so I may send the atached video.

Watch Etheridge grit his teeth in seething anger as he slaps at the camera in disbelief that a citizen would DARE ask him a question and videotape his response. Also notice how easily he swipes the kid's video device. As a Democrat in Congress, he's gotten very good at taking what belongs to others. He's a scum bag.

I frankly see nothing wrong in the congressman's reaction to being accosted in the street by unknown person whose objectives were unknown. He used reasonable force to defend himself from the potential threat posed by these assailants.

"Etheridge's defenders should ask themselves how they would react to this sort of conduct were he a Republican"

I would be totally p.o. but would want to know the entire story, like who was this punk kid,
was he paid for his actions like Greene,and did James O'Keefe or the N Carolina GOP have anything to do with this incident. If it was unprovoked that is a completely different story that N Carolina voters should know about before voting in Nov. Since none of us were there we might just want to wait before yelling that he must go jail(for charges never filed)and obtain the entire story.

Again if this kid's hands are clean then why
wasn't he in the D.C. D.A.'s office today filing class C Assault charges?

Monica, Edwards, and Madoff what an absolutely assine comparison. What the h*** do they have to do with anything other than for you to make
another absolutely idiotic comment.

"This is a typical D response to a congressman or should.."

you are absolutely right since Rs seem so proud
of shreading the constitution under Bush, we take seriously minor little constitutional concepts like presumption of innocense, due process, and burden of proof obviously foreign/socialist ideas to Rs.

Curious why none of the radical right here can
answer either of these 2 basic questions:

1. Wasn't one of the terms of James O'Keefe's
federal probation in the Mary Landrieu matter that he stay away from political dirty tricks?;
and
2. Since the Radicals here insist that there
was an assault committed by the Congressman why wasn't the 'student' in the D.C. D.A.'s office today filing misd assault by contact charges?

Cable and Web networks are really missing a step, as far as D.C. is concerned.Elected officials have enough bad habits to supply material for a very longrunning comedy series.
Ideally, the reporters would be Aikido practitioners.

Not sure about your point. If Republicans push people around, it should be okay for Dems to do it? Sounds like this young lady wound up with a promotion and $200,000 for her trouble. Hell, she can push me for $200,000. My point was that this Etheridge episode does not appear to be cooked-up; it actually happened. Maybe he was baited; maybe he was drunk; maybe the guy he grabbed was a teabagger; but he was caught with his pants down---so to speak---any way you look at it. Cameras everywhere anymore.

Brigade here is one you can really get agitated since you are all about doing the right thing regardless of party:

"Make government more like business - Vote Whitman"

"In June 2007, an eBay employee claimed that Ms. Whitman became angry and forcefully pushed her in an executive conference room at eBay’s headquarters, according to multiple former eBay employees with knowledge of the incident. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the matter was delicate and was deemed to be strictly confidential.

The employee, Young Mi Kim, was preparing Ms. Whitman for a news media interview that day. Ms. Kim, who was not injured in the incident, hired a lawyer and threatened a lawsuit, but the dispute was resolved under the supervision of a private mediator. Two of the former employees said the company paid a six-figure financial settlement to Ms. Kim, which one of them characterized as “around $200,000.”

An agreement to keep the matter confidential was also part of the settlement, and the authorities were not involved. Ms. Whitman was counseled in the matter, the former eBay employees said, by the company’s human resources lawyers and by Henry Gomez, then president of the Skype unit at eBay and now a senior adviser to Ms. Whitman’s campaign.

Ms. Kim still works at eBay and is now a senior manager for corporate and executive communications. At the time of the incident, she had recently joined eBay from the Gap. She left the company for about four months, returning to work in October 2007 after the matter was resolved." NY TIMES

I was wondering what the fake controversy this week would be. Now I know.

As far as I can tell from the footage, Etheridge was defending himself against some creepazoids (IMO) who ambushed him on the street.

These clowns (IMO) were hungry for trouble and they got a knuckle sandwich. Where's the story?

Posted by: broadwayjoe | June 14, 2010 7:35 PM

-----

Not a totally fake controversy. Not as fake as the one where the Missouri sewer dweller claimed that someone spit on him at a teabagger rally. Was that a Dem plant who spit, or, as I suspect, did the lying congressman just make the whole thing up? Joe won't believe his lying eyes, but he'll believe a lying slimeball congressman. Typical Dem voter.

dottydo You said I was defending someone and you couldn't do it. You provided nothing.

Relative to the my highly edited statement here goes from Right Now today in the WaPo:

"After getting the link to the two-part video (filmed by two cameras, one of them grabbed by Etheredge), Big Government edited its own version and put it up with a commentary from Flynn. Neither Flynn nor anyone else at the Web site has heard from the self-described students since then, despite attempts to contact them and get more details -- especially in the wake of attacks from Democrats trying to discredit the video by calling the two unidentified men "trackers."

If someone ( who continually refuses to identify himself ) walks up to me and sticks a camera phone, video recorder or other recording devise in my face I'd do the same thing, maybe more like putting it where the sun don't shine.
...

Posted by: jmfromdc

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I strongly suggest that you never put yourself into the position of running for public office and becoming property of the public then.

This Democrat did, and he really should just step down, because he is not above the law of the USA.

In an act of self defense , Bobby could easily have been carrying a donut for his crotch injuries today.
He got off lucky.

We need an ethics committee that can make this happen for the people they abuse.

Violation of the Oath of Office is sufficient cause for immediate and permanent removal from office, retroactive to the date of first violation even if that violation occurred many years or decades ago, including requirement that an Oath of Office violator return all pay and expense reimbursements and have all personal recorded votes voided and removed from the legislative record back to the date of first violation.

To chicago77: You don't get it. Spewing slogans, exaggerating wildly and over blowing the import of a highly edited video tape of unknown providence is no way to win an argument.

This posting I quoted honestly describes what happened and does not excuse the Congressman's behavior (his quick apology properly acknowledges his recognition of his error in over blowing the incident and getting physical and angry):

"All we can see or hear is a very edited part of a video where the Congressman behaves in an aggressive manner apparently inappropriately grabbing a so-called "student on a project" and interrogating him."

There was no great advantage possible to the Republican Party or any great lessons here for all of mankind. A man made a minor mistake and apologized promptly. No one was hurt and life moves on.

That said, there is more we need to know about how this all came about and who was involved in the incident. It was created and we need to meet its creators. What is the fear about that? The aggrieved are real and we should meet them.

Are you big enough to also recognize your own over blowing of this incident? He apologized. You feel superior to the Congressman - are you?

RE: "Don't try to cover up for unacceptable conduct and assault." chicago77

What else specifically did you see in the video?

Go ahead, answer the question since you have such strong opinions on the topic. What was was inaccurate in this posting:

"All we can see or hear is a very edited part of a video where the Congressman behaves in an aggressive manner apparently inappropriately grabbing a so-called "student on a project" and interrogating him.

Why there are two students filming so that no "student" is visible or identifiable in any way remains an open issue for me.The question asked of the Congressman, although seemingly harmless, is totally out of context and will remain so until we know more. I want to see the entire video before I make a final judgment on how a confrontation developed there."

'If someone ( who continually refuses to identify himself ) walks up to me and sticks a camera phone, video recorder or other recording devise in my face I'd do the same thing, maybe more like putting it where the sun don't shine.
This event should also go to prove that firearms of any type have no place in DC, if you think your taxes are high now just add 24 hr protection for everyone in the executive, legislative and judical branches just to be able to walk the street.

This story could be a case study in media bias. A story about a congressman who physically accosts someone asking him a question becomes a story about who the cameraman is, what is his affiliation, and how Republicans are pushing it. Washington Post, you are beneath contempt.

This story could be a case study in media bias. A story about a congressman who physically accosts someone asking him a question becomes a story about who the cameraman is, what is his affiliation, and how Republicans are pushing it. Washington Post, you are beneath contempt.

If someone ( who continually refuses to identify himself ) walks up to me and sticks a camera phone, video recorder or other recording devise in my face I'd do the same thing, maybe more like putting it where the sun don't shine.
This event should also go to prove that firearms of any type have no place in DC, if you think your taxes are high now just add 24 hr protection for everyone in the executive, legislative and judical branches just to be able to walk the street.

"All we can see or hear is a very edited part of a video where the Congressman behaves in an aggressive manner apparently inappropriately grabbing a so-called "student on a project" and interrogating him."

Get Real!

Don't try to cover up for unacceptable conduct and assault. That's what political hacks and shills always do.

The Congressman behaved in a very irrational and violent manner.

To his credit at least somewhat, he admitted what he did was unacceptable.

You gotta love how the Washington Post makes it seem like the congressman is the victim here, when some young kids were attacked. But, when there was NO evidence of all the slander and slurs against the Tea Party, it was taken as truth and used to attack the Tea Party as spitting on people, calling congressman the N-word etc.

This guy should be forced to resign for such reckless behavior. But no, leftist apologists paint this Congressman as the victim...

All we can see or hear is a very edited part of a video where the Congressman behaves in an aggressive manner apparently inappropriately grabbing a so-called "student on a project" and interrogating him.

Why there are two students filming so that no "student" is visible or identifiable in any way remains an open issue for me.The question asked of the Congressman, although seemingly harmless, is totally out of context and will remain so until we know more. I want to see the entire video before I make a final judgment on how a confrontation developed there.

Andrew Breitbart is involved? He's the one who bankrolled the ACORN pimp sting, and the botched wiretapping of Sen. Landrieu's office. So he pays a young republican $50k a year to prowl Capitol Hill with a video camera doing nothing other than baiting a Dem to take a swing at him. Or, at a minimum, capture some kind of confrontation on video?
How does this improve our government?

“Lets find out how who this kid is and how much he was paid by the state GOP before jumping to conclusions.”
This is a typical D response to a congressman or should we say thug who has acted inappropriately toward another citizen. If I am not mistaken a R senator lost his seat after he lost his temper and only called someone a name. The left was all over him, but yet when one of their own acts worse they blame it on the kid. Please what a double standard talk about hypocrisy.

Notice the stilted weasel words these WaPo hacks use to soften the story for this drunken fascist congressman: "scuffle" (implies mutual combat) and "manhandles" (sounds softer than "assault and battery").

Who is the "student"? Why won't he identify himself? Why doesn't he go on TV, tell us who he is, and then file assault charges against Etheridge? Why is he afraid to identify himself if he was just doing his job as he says?

Hopefully you will never serve on a criminal jury panel. You have no idea what the entire
story is, nor have you seen the entire tape or listened to the entire audio and yet you are ready to arrest and censure a US Congressman.

Lets find out how who this kid is and how much he was paid by the state GOP before jumping to conclusions.

Posted by: leichtman1 | June 14, 2010 5:17 PM
=================
Do you even listen to yourself? Who cares if someone paid him. He asked a PUBLIC SERVANT a simple question and was assaulted for it.

You nutjob libs condone this and then tell me that I should let liberals have control of my life? Get off the crack moonbat.

Hopefully you will never serve on a criminal jury panel. You have no idea what the entire
story is, nor have you seen the entire tape or listened to the entire audio and yet you are ready to arrest and censure a US Congressman.

Lets find out how who this kid is and how much he was paid by the state GOP before jumping to conclusions.

Looks like some are trying very hard to make up excuses for this guy from North Carolina. Most of my life I have had a great deal of respect for people from North Carolina. To me he has done enough to be removed from office but then it could have been the fault of George Bush that made him go off and do some stupid things. I would think this young man was trying to write a school paper and really I would think he was very lucky to even know who this guy was and lucky again to be able to speak to a congressman. Many of thes econgressmen and senators think anyone who talks to them might be a terrorist. My vote is to not ask him to leave but to use a phrase being used by our President kiss his a-- right out of congress and let him know who is boss.

Bob Etheridge is a coward. He attacked that young man for no reason other than he saw an easy mark, and of course he forgot about the possibility of cameras. He should be charged with assault, period. Let the people of NC decide at the next election if this piece of garbage is what they want representing them. His statement tried to make it sound like the young man had asked a slanted question. The video makes Etheridge out for the coward and liar he is. If the young man would of touched him he would of cried, whined, complained of the attack on his life and that of his family and friends lives, hired more body guards at the tax payers expense and went on camera explaining his life was threatened but he fought off the attackers and defended the good people of NC. I wish the young man had decked him when he refused to let go.

I study your big BRAINS to see what is happening with NAZIS trying TO GET DOCs FOR KIDZ. POOR insURANCE COs trying to make a DOLLAR IN OBOMA's COMMIEland. WHY? TELL ME MORE SO I can have my own FIX II.

No one here has defended Etheridge. Instead, a few of us have pointed out that there's more to this story than meets the eye. I'd think right-wingers would want to see the entire video, not just 1 minute and 11 seconds of it, and they'd like to ensure that the "students" who made it were actually victims and not part of a smear campaign against Etheridge. The Right's apparent fear of more investigation clearly indicates that right-wingers think the kids were paid to ambush the Congressman and they don't want that part of the story to come out.

Speaking as a Democrat no one is above the law and Rep. Etheridge should have been arrested. Had the reverse been true, and Rep. Etheridge had been assulted, that unnamed "student" would have been serving some time behind bars.

That clip is a joke too. It still doesn't show what's going on off-camera (were they flipping Etheridge the finger while asking their provocative question, were others off-camera trying to non-verbally provoke the Congressman) and it cuts off in the middle of the scene after one minute and eleven seconds. Where's the whole video? What are the boys -- boys who couldn't identify themselves or their school or explain why their "school project" entailed ambushing a Democrat -- hiding?

This is nothing more than a rightwing set-up and provocation so that the conservatives can drape themselves with victimhood. That's how conservatives make their living, sell books and get ratings on FOX news and talk radio.

37thand0street is my blog prophet and I don't know why he isn't everyone's BUT I WILL STRESS SOME OF HIS POINTS AND LOGYCS NOW.

His description of Obama is so true and why does Obama make up so many LIES about the situation he found. 37thand0street has stressed that once George Bush left a nice oval office to him he was not responsible for anything he did in office - he was only ONE PERSON AND U KNOW HOW WAshington is!!!!!! Who can differ with that. THE WHITE HOUSE IS REALLY NICE ANYWAY!!!!!wISH i COULD LIVE THERE INSTEAD OF THE KENYAN OBAMA!

1)Bush was finished and turned the country over to Obama in great shape and GAVE the KEYS TO THE GREAT OVAL OFFICE AND AIR FORCE ONE to the KENYAN LIER. Obama was President OK THE KEYS PROVE IT! WOOOHH is US!

2) We had won ALL the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan GO SURGES! - the economy was doing great and the Wall Street was doing great again (close call no?) Obama lies about this everyday to Michele and his girls and the country. WHO CAN BELIEVE HIM? NOT 37thand0street!!!!!!!!!

3)There was no budget deficit, EVERYONE ( EXCEPT 37thand0street )WAS WORKING and government spending was way down and taxes were so low the rich were getting richer and richer and richer. That is America at its capitalist best not socialist commie NAZI like Obama. hE GOT HIMSELF A GOOD JOB AND NO ONE ELSE GOT ONE. iS THAT FAIR? NOT!

HONOR OUR PROPHET 37thand0street for he is WISE BEYOND his 37 years!

MAYBE I'LL ADD A FEW

SPACES FOR EMPHASIS...

oBAAAAAAAAAAMA HAS BANKRUPTED THE country already WITH OBAMACARE FOR the poor. YOUC CAN FEEL IT! Who was complaining the poor had no healthcare??????????????????????

DO I HEAR THE COMMUNIST AND SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT COMMIES saying THE KIDS SHOULD HAVE A DOC?

Why do insurance companies need help deciding who shouldn't be COVERED ---- DON'T THEY DO A GREAT JOB of dumping those that get sick or might get sick. THAT IS THE JOB of the insurance company not the socialist mommie state to say who is NOT good enough to be covered.

I am insured and I know 37thand0street must be because some days he must be on his meds CAUSE HE LAYS OFF THE CAPS AND JUST DOESN'T BLOG

obviously cornell knows zero about
TriCare. It is a 100% Government Run H.C.
plan where its members pay a grand total of $3
for prescriptions and no deductibles. Its
a great plan for our military who justly deserve such, its just too bad that the rest
of us can not get that kind of soicalized
H.C. that only our military and members
of Congress can get. The Congressman was
absolutely right. Rs want socialized H.C.
for the military and Medicare for their Tea
Party friends and squat for the rest of us.
A so called student, likely a R plant, shoving
a camera in a US Congressman's face is where
the outrage should be.

" United States Marine who "dared" to challenge Mr. Etheridge's support for government run national socialized health care. Mr. Etheridge tries to humiliate and insult the Marine by trying to insinuate this marine is getting a "free ride" on his health insuance"

i.e. Socialized Tricare and Medicare for us zip for the rest of the country..sounds fair
fon't ya thunk..

what's disgusting is all these posters who are defending the congressman. i wonder if they would defend him if it was their kid tha was being beat up by one of the most powerful men in the country on a public street. sometimes its better to takes the lumps and be human than to be a die hard partisan and lose what little humanity you have left

Etheridge is toast. He was toast even before this happened. The fiction that his seat is safe is only believed by Democrats who have consistently misread the anger of American voters. The Dems will lose close to 160 seats in the House this fall and Etheridge will be one of those ousted. Etheridge was toast before this incident and this assault on a student does not help him with voters.

I know what people can learn.... Bob is a fascist... He has no care about anyone but himself and power... If those kids he assaulted had parents with any power he would be in jail.. He deserves to be in jail...

We North Carolinians are very embarrassed by this gentleman's behavior here. At home we know him to be a big tax spender and a supporter of illegal aliens - he is a true Obama lock step representative that tows the party line regardless of what we think. We would like to have him leave Congress, but so many of our "welfare voters" are in his district so it is hard to remove him. He does bring home the bacon and he allows his constituents to live work and tax free here in North Carolina. Nice to see him on all the networks!

Here's the problem with these career politicians - they think they can say anything and 'get away' with it. It's just a matter of incovenience that they have to answer to anyone. Thanks to the technology (Video, Youtube, etc) they no longer have that luxury. Anyway, what else this arrogant congressman say or did when the camera's were not rolling? Get rid of this moron and his party from power.

Unless the person he grabbed presses charges and they stick (e.g. prosecution, conviction, etc.), this incident will eventually fade from the public memory as it's eclipsed by whatever silly things other politicians do next week.

If this was indeed a real assault, why is the identity of the "victim" hidden and his face blurred? Is he really a student? Without knowing, we have no idea what the questioner's agenda is or if the video was edited or tampered with in any way. Several times Etheridge can be heard asking the questioner to identify himself.

Why was the video released to Breitbart and not another outlet? The MSM should dig around to find the answers to these questions instead of dumbly swallowing video handed to them.

What a case of simple assault and the congressman needs to be arrested and charged accordingly. He'll post bail and then try to buy the other party off. If that doesn't work, he'll just borrow Charlie Rangels' "Get out of Jail" card and then everyone will forget it ever happened.

Chris, Chris, Chris,
Where's your sense of outrage? Yes, he assaulted the student. That's bad enough. But that fact that he did so is evidence of a sense of self-importance, indeed, an arrogance, that is especially inappropriate on the part of a one of the people's representatives. He should be reprimanded by the House. And he should be turned out of office by his constituents.

Compare this to the way the WaPo jumped on and publicized the Macaca video, and never disparaged the motives of the kid behind the camera.

With the Etheridge assault, the Washington Post claims it is a republican story. Nothing here. MoveOn. Lessons learned. Assault? What assault! It was a hug. Yes, the Washington Post has declared grabbing a kid around his neck and holding him against his will "a hug".

August 13, 2009 — Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge scolds a United States Marine who "dared" to challenge Mr. Etheridge's support for government run national socialized health care. Mr. Etheridge tries to humiliate and insult the Marine by trying to insinuate this marine is getting a "free ride" on his health insuance. But this is a United States Marine and Mr. Etheridge ends up humiliating himself....

"Time and time again, politicians, who should know better, seem to commit gaffes based on a belief that what they are saying will never get broadcast to the wider world. The Etheridge controversy is more evidence that such an idea is entirely antiquated."

This is true and Rand Paul and Sharron Angle will be finding that out.

"Rein in Medicare — but not Medicare's payments to doctors – including Rand Paul, a practicing optometrist who says half his patients are on Medicare.

"Medicare is socialized medicine," and one way to control medical costs would be to impose a $2,000 deductible in the program. "But try selling that one in an election."

US turned down Britain’s offer
to help clean up BP oil rig spill
Times [UK], by Robin Pagnamenta,

A high-level British offer of help to clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was rebuffed by America shortly after the accident, fuelling fresh fears of political tension between the two countries over the disaster. A few days after the BP-leased rig sank on April 22, the Cabinet Office made a direct offer to the US State Department to airlift half of Britain’s 1,200-tonne stockpile of chemical dispersants, The Times has learnt. At the time there was an urgent demand for fresh supplies.

Four days after the U.N. Security Council approved fresh sanctions against Iran, the Iranian and Pakistani governments on Sunday finalized a multi-billion dollar deal under which Iran will supply natural gas by pipeline to its eastern neighbor for 25 years. To win Chinese support, the watered-down U.N. sanctions resolution does not target Iran’s pivotal energy sector. Nonetheless, Washington has long been opposed to the pipeline plan, urging both Pakistan and India – which may join the project at a later stage – not to cooperate with Iran while the international dispute over its nuclear activities remains unresolved.

It must be incredibly frustrating to be led over a cliff with the rest of the lemming pack and not knowing how to get out. At least Nancy's seat is safe. she can take it at the back of the chamber next year.

It really doesn't matter much who the other people were in this video. The video is complete and uncut, and they have perspectives from two different cameras. It could be anyone there, and it wouldn't really change how wrong Etheridge's reaction was.

Yes, Etheridge probably didn't like the question. Any question focused on the "Obama agenda" is not a friendly one. Still, that doesn't matter. Smile politely, keep walking, and refer the people to your office if they want an interview.

Occasionally, politicians sink down to the level of ambush amateur reporters. In this case, Etheridge immediately jumped several rungs lower. I can't really figure out what he was thinking. My only explanation is that he must have been drunk, which almost makes it worse.

If a Republican Congressman had behaved in this manner and on camera the incident would have been on the front page of qll pages of the MSM. Chris Cilliazza and the Washington Post would have been demanding that the Republican resign IMMEDIATELY!

if you look at his eyes. mr etheridge being that he came from a fundraiser luncheon had a few before the confrontation. also he was not hugging, he grabbed that kid by the nape of the neck! that pure and simple was an assault! also too give this guy a pass is exactly why their will be a massive shake up in nov!